MacLulich's study of English language Canadian fiction is based in part on essays published in a number of scholarly journals between 1978 and 1985. The result is not entirely seamless, and readers will find commentary on a single novel in several different places. (References are easy to locate, though, as they are cited in the index under title as well as author name.)

MacLulich provides a convincing argument for his thesis that Canadian contemporary writers have turned "their fiction into a reflection of Canadian society," having resisted the pull of the American mainstream and no longer finding it "necessary to look uneasily over their shoulders at Europe." He frequently offers fresh appraisals-Ralph Connor and L.M. Montgomery are credited with significant contributions to the development of regional fiction in Canada, rather than being dismissed with the customary faint sneer.

This thoughtful examination of our literature will be especially useful for its detailed coverage of Callaghan, Davies and Richler and briefer discussions of Duncan, Hood, Laurence and MacLennan, among others. This is a scholarly treatment (probably for teacher reference in high school libraries) and is especially recommended for public libraries that serve patrons doing university courses in Canadian literature.